On March 20, 2026, a delegation led by Professor Tian Tang, Associate Provost (International Education and Recruitment) of the University of Alberta, Canada, and Professor Cen Huang, Special Advisor on China Affairs, visited Hebei University of Technology (HEBUT) for exchanges and discussions. President Wang Limin and Vice President Chen Hongyan met with the delegation in the VIP Room on the Beichen Campus. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics such as joint student cultivation and fully exchanged views on directions and pathways for further deepening cooperation between the two universities.
Subsequently, a formal meeting and signing ceremony were held. Vice President Chen Hongyan, on behalf of HEBUT, extended a warm welcome to Professor Tian Tang and her delegation. She noted that the University of Alberta is among the world's top 100 universities, with strong disciplinary strengths and a leading level of internationalization. The two universities share strong compatibilities in fields such as materials, energy, and mechanical engineering, as well as highly consistent educational philosophies and a solid foundation for cooperation. In recent years, HEBUT has been advancing its internationalization strategy and continuously expanding its global cooperation network. She expressed the hope that this signing would serve as a new starting point to deepen talent cultivation, academic exchanges, and research collaboration, thereby elevating and upgrading the partnership between the two institutions.
Professor Tian Tang provided a detailed introduction to the University of Alberta's academic strengths, signature disciplines, and internationalization strategy. She noted that the university has been ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide in recent years, with particular strengths in fields such as petroleum engineering, artificial intelligence, energy and environment, and sustainable development — many of which rank among the world's best. The university has also established cooperative education programs with several Chinese universities. She noted that both universities share a "pragmatic and efficient" development philosophy and expressed anticipation that this cooperative project would serve as a breakthrough, leading to more practical collaboration in the future. The two sides also exchanged views on topics including Sino-foreign cooperative education, faculty exchanges, and course sharing.
Witnessed by the attendees, the two sides formally signed a cooperation agreement for the "3+1+1" Bachelor's-Master's Joint Cultivation Program in Materials Science and Engineering, marking a new stage in the partnership between the two universities.
During the visit, the delegation toured the HEBUT University History Museum, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the university's century-long history, its distinctive educational feature of "integrating engineering and practice," and its achievements in internationalization. They spoke highly of HEBUT's century-old engineering heritage and its open, international approach to education.
About the University of Alberta
Founded in 1908, the University of Alberta is a leading public research university in Canada, a founding member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, and a member of the World University Alliance and the World Energy University Alliance. It ranks 94th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. The university is known for its strong research capabilities, with strengths in petroleum engineering, earth sciences, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, chemical engineering, business, and agriculture. It is one of the Canadian universities with the most ample research funding and outstanding academic influence.